And I'm in Texas, where we are actually taking these poor in and caring for them, instead of bitching about how tired one is of a reporter telling the uncomfortable truth and pleading to speed up the rescue of thousand and thousands around him. People have literally died before his eyes, this is multiple times worse than 911 and a still ongoing disaster. Does that not qualify as dramatic?
Maybe Shep needs therapy. Maybe you need a soul.
God Bless Texas D.E.S.!
>>>Maybe you need a soul.
I have one, thanks.
Whazoo aperture.
Died before whose eyes?
Noticed one man who commented that this was a disaster of Biblical proportions. It is that. I've also been seeing testimonies from survivors and taking notes. Seems a large percentage of them are re-evaluating their lives. Who knows what changes God will have wrought by the time these people get settled in a "new" life? I pray that they all find a renewed meaning in their lives.
Today I spoke to several people who evacuated New Orleans at various times, Saturday through today (this one from his roof, by helicopter -- he had stayed to care for his ill, elderly mother). These people have suffered tremendously. Just to hear about it over the phone was very difficult. I can't imagine what it would be like to witness it in person. Even reporters have hearts. To some, it may seem unprofessional, but I find it hard to criticize them. It takes a tremendous amount of courage just to be in New Orleans at this time.
I feel much more optimistic today than I did yesterday. Perhaps it's because I had my first real meal today at a restaurant next to my building in downtown Jackson -- salad, broccoli, squash, zucchini, turnip greens. These may seem like ordinary things to many people, but they weren't available at my grocery store yesterday, and we are 200 miles from the devastation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I haven't had a green vegetable since Sunday, so it was wonderful.
The most encouraging news for central Mississippi is that the gas shortage may be easing somewhat as supplies are becoming more plentiful. This is good, because the Mississippi economy has taken a real hit, and we don't need a "disaster within the disaster" as the Clarion-Ledger editorialized today. My neighbors spent the night lined up for gas, and were lucky enough to get 10 gallons at 7:45 this morning -- after waiting since 11:00 p.m. last night.
Thanks to those of you who keep these threads going and to all of you who are contributing money and offers of help to us here in the South.
36 people from our New Orleans Office are still unaccounted for. I am going to look for them on the various missing persons websites this weekend. Hopefully, they are alive, but just unable to communicate.